Florida Woman Reportedly Charged Cover Fee For Drug Flop House

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In mid-April, a Florida woman was arrested for running a drug house that charged a fee for entry. That fee was usually paid in the form of drugs, specifically heroin.

Thirty-seven-year-old Danielle Baggett was arrested on April 11 for "maintaining a nuisance dwelling” after local police noted a sudden spike in heroin and fentanyl overdoses occurring in the area surrounding Baggett’s home in Sarasota, on South Lockwood Ridge Road, starting back in August of last year.

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According to the Sarasota County Sheriff investigators, police became increasingly suspicious after being called out to the home 33 times within seven months for general complaints.

Further, they had been called out to the address for overdoses from heroin and fentanyl seven times during that period; one time for Baggett herself, who overdosed on heroin in her bedroom on March 21.

March turned out to be a particularly harrowing month for the drug flop house. Sarasota police were called to the scene for three overdoses which occurred over three consecutive days. Police were able to resuscitate the drug users with the help of Narcan on each occasion, according to WWSB.

Each time, officers spoke with Baggett, who was present, who assured police that she was trying to “clean up” all illegal activities at her residence.

Those who paid the cover charge in order to use drugs such as heroin cut with meth or fentanyl at the home stated, in an affidavit, that Baggett created a space “for everyone to get high,” and that a cover charge was implemented. It was described as a “drug flop house.”

Another person said that as he was overdosing on fentanyl, he was dragged from the house and left in the front yard, according to the Bradenton Herald.

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Baggett has previously been arrested for possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, as well as dealing in stolen property and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

According to SarasotaSheriff.org, Baggett was held at the Sarasota County jail on a $1,500 bond. She was released on April 12, a day after her arrest. The investigation will continue with the expectation of further charges as details emerge.

William Georgiades is a former editor at Esquire, Black Book, the New York Post and the Grapevine and has written for several publications including New York Magazine, Vanity Fair, the London Times and GQ. He has been the features editor at The Fix since 2013. You can find him on Linkedin.

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